ASTANA, June 14, 2023 – Representatives of ministries of ecology and natural resources, national economy, agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the World Bank and ECOJER Association, held a policy dialogue focused on supporting Kazakhstan’s efforts to build resilience against climate change impacts. This is the third workshop in a series of policy dialogues to support Kazakhstan's implementation of its critical climate and environmental strategies.
Kazakhstan's government is taking bold steps to transition to a greener model as evident by the recently adopted Strategy for achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 and the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The country also updates its long-term Concept on transition to the Green Economy. Together, these policy documents build a solid framework for tackling climate change in the short and long-term based on a trajectory towards a more resilient growth model - the one that is more driven by investments in new sectors and climate-smart technologies.
“Today there are opportunities to build climate resilience and mitigate some of the most adverse impacts through planning of the sustainable water resources management, climate-smart agriculture, and resilient land management practices,” said Andrei Mikhnev, World Bank Country Manager for Kazakhstan. “Understanding that climate change will only exacerbate the risks to natural disasters and other impacts, we are preparing a $2 million grant for the resilience program to support Kazakhstan in restoring its landscapes and protecting lives and livelihoods.”
Workshop participants examined the existing challenges faced by the sectors in the decarbonization and climate change adaptation efforts. They also reviewed the national adaptation plan and learned about climate change adaptation experience and practices from Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. Experts from the government and other stakeholders like UNDP, GIZ, administration of city of Tirana exchanged views on climate adaptation policy and investment priorities for Kazakhstan.
By bringing together Kazakhstan's government agencies, the private sector, civil society, academia, international development organizations, and the world's leading experts, the policy dialogues series foster collaboration and action to accelerate Kazakhstan towards meeting its carbon neutrality targets and international climate action commitments, and towards reducing pollution in support of Kazakhstan's climate and development goals. The series' first policy dialogue discussed the country's Low-Emissions Development Strategy and the need for the implementation of low-carbon policies. The second policy dialogue focused on improving air quality in Kazakhstan.
